During the summer of 1968 in Rockbridge County, Virginia, eleven-year-old Shenandoah Carmody’s mother disappeared. Her twin sister, Woody, stopped speaking, and her once-loving father slipped into a mean drunkenness unbefitting a superior court judge. As the first anniversary of their mother’s disappearance nears, her father’s threat to send Woody away and his hints at an impending remarriage spur a desperate Shenny—who was named for the Shenandoah Valley—to find her mother before its too late. While struggling to get her mute twin to reveal what she knows about the night their mother vanished, Shenny is ultimately swept up in a series of heartbreaking events that will force her to face the painful truth about herself and her family.
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Quotes & Awards

“Kagen not only
delivers a spellbinding story but also takes a deep look into the mores,
values, and shams of a small Southern community in an era of change.”

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Shenandoah leaps off
the page in vivid colour: sparky, resourceful, trying to cope with shattering
damage and doing it with the matter-of-fact, heartbreaking courage that kids
learn when there’s no other choice. This book is packed with warmth, wit,
intelligence, images savoury enough to taste—and deep dark places that are all
the more terrible for being surrounded by so much brightness.”

Tana French, New York Times bestselling author

Selected for the May 2010 Indie Next List

Listener Opinions

by Kim | 2/20/2014

" I really enjoyed this book. It was told through the eyes of an 11 year old girl trying to find out why and how her mother disappeared. It was set in the 50's or 60's I believe. It was interesting and parts were funny and kind of quirky. "

by Nicole Long | 2/20/2014

" I just did not like this book which was a disappointment, since the only other book by this author that I have read I really liked. I will chalk it up to a fluke and try her again, but I would not recommend this book. "

by Echilds | 2/17/2014

" a quick read, but charming protagonist and an interesting twist or two along the way "

by Elizabeth | 2/6/2014

" The third I've read by Lesley Kagen. This is filled with so many characters (and some of them similar) that it takes a while to catch on. The protagonists are twin girls--Shenandoah and Woody. Shenandoah is taking care of Woody since she has gone mute due to a trauma. Both girls are trying to sort out the death of their mother and the cruelness of their father. Even though the subject matter is tough, Kagen again manages to brings a lighthearted attitude to the topic by creating an atmosphere where the girls are on an adventure. Kagen's language play in this book is that the girls have a secret twin language--that is very cool. In this book I very much enjoyed the southern rural setting and the intertwining of race relations. "

" This was a great story. I loved the narrator. Twins in the story would be my age! "

Deb-oh | 1/20/2014

" I really enjoyed this story and the main character is just that...quite a character! "

Roxanne | 1/6/2014

" I enjoyed the author's other book "Whistling in the Dark" better, but still enjoy this book too. There is always some little fact exposed that doesn't allow you to put down the book. "

Donna | 1/3/2014

" Doesn't matter what color you are....you have to stick by your friends. "

Deborah Parins Zich | 12/10/2013

" The author, Lesley Kagen, came to our book club and was as fantastic in person as her characters are in her novel :) "

Lee Anne | 12/10/2013

" Ok, wow. I had a hard time with the first half of the book. I thought it was slow and I didn't develop close relationships with the characters as I did in her last book. However, the last 150 pages were non stop twists. I never suspected anything on any of those pages! Great ending too! "

Ron | 11/22/2013

" It was a real mystery. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. "

Debbie | 10/20/2013

" Very, very sow to get into..... but partially due to my crazy life of no time to read....but U did hit a point in the book where I couldn't put it down. Good read.....ending not as expected. "

Rebecca | 9/21/2013

" Reminded me of Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter and Kagen's previous novel Whistling in the Dark. She has a real gift when it comes to capturing the voices and sentiment of children.I might recommend this book to my reading group. "

Tanya | 7/13/2013

" Loved this book! It is a story told through the viewpoint of an 11-year-old girl who is trying her best to survive and also protect her traumatized twin sister. It is beautifully written as are all Kagen's books. Needless to say, I am a fan! "

Robin Fischer | 5/24/2013

" Lesley Kagen is so fantastic. I would recommend her books to just about anyone. "

Jacqueline Burke | 5/18/2013

" Really enjoyed this narrator---a bit of a mystery, too! "

Pam | 3/19/2013

" I LOVED this book! I really hope Ms. Kagen will write a sequel. "

Carol | 1/15/2013

" Liked the first 3/4 of this book, but the ending was kind of eh.... "

Dena | 1/8/2013

" Lesley Kagen's books are all amazing! One of my favorite authors! "

Jennifer | 12/29/2012

" This was a phenomenal book all the twists and turns are totally amazing. I cant wait for her next book to come out. "

Jennifer Collette | 11/12/2012

" Good story about two young sisters, but kind of depressing. Not a light summer read, which is what I tried to do. Definitely more of a cold winter night book. Save it for after the holidays in January, when you are already depressed. "

Sara | 11/3/2012

" I had a really hard getting into this book, however, I'm so glad I stuck itmohe because it was a phenomenal read after the first 1/4 of the book! "

Kathleen | 4/14/2012

" I really enjoyed this story though not as much as "Whistling In the Dark". There are lots of twists that keep you on the edge of your seat!! Was pleasantly surprised by the ending...it was not what I expected and I was very happy for that! "

Other Titles by Lesley Kagen:

About the Author

Lesley Kagen is an actress,
voice-over talent, and restaurateur, as well as the author of multiple national
bestselling novels. Whistling in the Dark
was a Midwest Choice Honor winner. Land
of a Hundred Wonders, an Indie Next pick, was also nominated for a Midwest
Choice Award. She lives near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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